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The Blessed Birth-day

celebrated in some religious meditations on the Angels Anthem. Lvc. 2. 14. Also holy transportations, in contemplating some of the most obserueable adiuncts about our Saviours Nativity. Extracted for the most part out of the Sacred Scriptures, Ancient Fathers, Christian Poets. And some moderne Approved Authors. By Charles Fitz-Geffry. The second Edition with Additions

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Will Adams Imps nere from this itch be quitted
Of crauing to know more then is permitted?
What fool'd their Father out of all his store

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Of knowledge, but a lusting after more?
While he would wiser be then he was made.
He lost the substance, catching at the shade:
Enough he had, enough could not content him,
This discontent lost him th'enough was lent him.
Yet will not his bold issue warned be,
But still are tasting the forbidden tree.
As if a blind man sought his sight to finde
By the same meanes, which made his Father blinde.
So seekes some gamesters almost beggerd heyre,
By play his Parents losses to repaire:
Where as he soonest his lost store regaines
Who best improues that little which remaines.
Sufficient for salvation is revealed,
Why should we search for that which is concealed?
Sith God to Vs enough for Vs hath showne,
Can we not giue him leaue to keepe his owne?
To breake into Gods sealed secresie
This is not searching, but bold burglary.
This life is for beleefe, the next for light,
Heere we doe walke by Faith, and there by sight.
What can be wanting to our perfect blisse,
When all shall naked be that certaine is?
The chiefest wisdome here attain'd can be,
Is to be wise vnto sobrietie.
Avaunt then saucie Curiosity,
Dangerous it is into this Arke to prie:

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God soonest doth his mysteries impart
Vnto the humble and beleeuing heart.
The humble suiter doth by prayer obtaine,
That which the curious searcher seekes in vaine.
Let him who diues into Gods secresie,
Dread to b'orewhelmed with his maiesty.
Here nothing doth sound knowledge more advance,
Nor is more learn'd, then humble Ignorance.
Cease then to argue, or if you dispute,
Let Faith be moderator, reason mute.
Twere hard for me, and many a silly man,
Wer't art and wit that made a Christian,
Not faith, and Hope, and Charity. These three
As well in simple as in wise may be.
Blest be Gods wisdome who doth mans exclude
In heavenly matters. Here the raw and rude
May with the wisest walke. The wisest man
Can but beleeue, and so the simplest can:
Yea sometimes sooner then the wiser doe,
Who humane wisdome trusting too much to
Runne mad with reason, and then furiously
Doe cut the knot they know not to vnty.
'Tis well that God this wondrous worke hath done
Whereby to vs is brought salvation:
Suffice it that the matter is reveald,
Although the manner be from vs conceald:
'Tis well the benefite doth ours remaine

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Though to the secret we cannot attaine:
'Tis faire our King into his court doth take vs,
Though of his Counsell he refuse to make vs.
Each Saint may say, such honour is for mee
Too high, yet all his Saints so honour'd bee.
Then let his praise still in their mouthes be found,
And let them with his royall guard resound,
Glory to God on high, on earth be peace,
And let good will t'wards Christians never cease.